Geisinger facilities achieve Magnet recognition again

DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital attained Magnet recognition again in November, a testament to the organization’s continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.
 
This is Geisinger Medical Center’s fourth time receiving Magnet recognition, which includes Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital. They are the only two hospitals in the region to have earned this prestigious quality designation. Only 10% of hospitals in the U.S. are Magnet designated.
 
“This is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Crystal Muthler, chief nursing officer of Geisinger’s central region. “To earn Magnet recognition once again is an incredible source of pride for our nurses, and it highlights the quality and values our staff members bring to our patients every day. It reflects well upon the wonderful nursing professionals we have at Geisinger and illustrates how lucky we are to have them here in our community.”
 
Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organization and their communities, such as:
 
·       Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information
·       Less surgical complications
·       Higher job satisfaction among nurses
·       Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their position
 
Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.
 
The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. 
 
The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
 
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission of Magnet Recognition.
 
Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received it most recent recognition.
 
“We have great nurses throughout Geisinger, and they make our hospitals and clinics the special places they are for our community,” said Janet Tomcavage, executive vice president and chief nursing executive. “This Magnet recognition demonstrates the excellence of our nursing staff and continues to inspire every member of the team. It is this level of commitment to providing our patients and neighbors with high-quality care that shines through this Magnet recognition.”

About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program

The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is committed to making better health easier for the more than 1 million people it serves. Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes 10 hospital campuses, a health plan with more than half a million members, a research institute and the Geisinger College of Health Sciences, which includes schools of medicine, nursing and graduate education. With more than 25,000 employees and 1,700+ employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.